We are the opposite of mass production.

So the marketing strategy for the new grand Bentley has taken shape.

First there was a teaser video called 'The all-new grand Bentley.'

Today Bentley released a new video titles 'We are the opposite of mass production.' It is a nice touch.

Here it is. It features Peter Guest the Head of Body and Trim doing the voice over, with Clive Jones stitching and cutting.

On the site New Grand Bentley the following seven videos are 'coming soon'.

It will be a fusion of extremes.
It's a rare event and a privilege.
It's never been done. Let's do it.
Colour is personal, just like a Bentley.
There was no benchmark.
The spirit of British motoring lives on.
W.O. Bentley's dream is coming alive.

And guess what. There is 7 weeks till the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance!

So a one video per week marketing strategy seems on the cards!

Production Numbers and Survival rates

Ever wondered about the production figures of Rolls Royce and Bentley cars?

Interested in mile stones like the 100000th car produced, and the 25 cars made to celebrate the 100000th Rolls Royce and 100 years of motoring?



Want to know how many Bentley 8L were made and how many survive today?

Well check this amazing document out!

It is significant that in 2002 a total of 78% of all rolls Royce and Bentley cars ever produced survive. That figure will be more today due to the recent increase in production.

Environmentalists take note.

Figures courtesy of the Rolls Royce Owners Club Australia.

Ray Mumford Art Car

What happens when you are the "largest classic and muscle car dearler with the biggest inventory in the West" and a not so humble Rolls Royce Silver Shadow SRH10340 turns up in the lot as a trade in?



Taking a look at the car, you certainly scratch your head. It has art work all over it in immaculate detail, but the context of the art work is not so quite clear.



Pretty much you have to go with what you were told. A 'Rolls Royce' tale no doubt. A story where fact and fiction become blurred and creative art prevails. Just like the beautiful images of Rolls Royces on the Rolls Royce.



Well that is the situation for San Diego Classic & Muscle Cars. So here is the story which precedes with the caveat "HERE IS THE STORY WE GOT WITH THIS CAR"



"IN 1971 THE FACTORY NEEDED A CAR FOR THE EUROPEAN AUTOSHOW, BUT WANTED SOMETHING UNIQUE FOR DISPLAY AND COMMISSIONED A WELL KNOWN FOR THAT TIME ARTIST TO PAINT SOME CLASSIC ROLLS ROYCE ART ON THE CAR, THE DETAIL IS AMAZING EVEN 37YRS LATER AND ITS VERY HARD TO APPRCIATE THE FINITE DETAIL OF THE AIRBRUSH ARTWORK IN A PICTURE, IT IS DONE IS A SEPIA TONE AND THE DETAILS ARE THE BEST I HAVE EVER SEEN IN THIS KIND OF WORK DONE ALMOST 40YRS AGO."



"THE CAR TOURED ALL OVER EUROPE AND WAS ON DISPLAY IN A MUSEUM FOR A SHORT TIME. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN RESTORED AND IS ONE OF ONE, WE DO NOT HAVE INFO ON THE ARTIST OTHER THAN THE INITIALS R.M."



"NOW THIS CAR IS NOT FOR EVERYONE, BUT IT IS UNIQUE AND QUITE DIFFERENT."



Well luckily for the used car sales man's story, it can be clarified by some serious Rolls Royce and Bentley spotters.

Take David Irvine for example. He scratched his head after seeing the ad recalls some articles from 1979 about the car.

Then he goes to his scrap books of 100's of Rolls Royce and Bentley photos and articles and locates a couple about this particular car.

The oldest car magazine in the world Autocar had this article from 1979.



Click on the images to read the real story.

And Motor Magazine at the same time ran with this story.



A touch different to the used car salesmen's story. Who would have thought!



Here is Ray Mumford next to the car after it was finished.



And during the painting.



It is amazing detail using air brush.



So if you want to buy the car that comes with a bit of a yarn and some unique art work you can.

Ebay Item: 120432658615.

It is quite well priced at a buy it now price of US $13,900.00.




More can be read about the artist at his website http://www.raymumford.co.uk

He also painted a Corniche. Or is it a Mulliner Park Ward Drop Head Coupe?



And look! The lady has accidental forgot to put on some clothes.



How unfortunate.

Pictures courtesy (San Diego Classic & Muscle Cars, Autocar, Motor Magazine, Ray Mumford)

The New Grand Bentley

Bentley Motors have put out a press release with a single picture.

This one.




It is a teaser image for the "all new grand Bentley" that will be replacing the Final Series Arnage.

There is also a video - which shows pretty much just as much as the picture.

The car will be revealed next summer, most likely in August at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

It is a very timely occasion, as Bentley is a special Marque this year at Pebble Beach.

Plenty of Aussie Bentley Boys are going and one will be bringing Chassis 141 a 1923 Bentley 3 Litre, the first ever Bentley at Le Mans.

Here is the image in inverse and reflected. It certainly does look very similar to the current Arnage, if not a little slicker.




From the spy shots of an experimental car, the dimensions of the new grand Bentley will be larger.

I will keep you posted on developments!